Faucet assembly for a beverage server having a displaceable cup trip lever dispensing lever assembly

Abstract

The apparatuses and methods disclosed herein, along with contemplated variants thereof, provide several advantages over known systems for actuating the faucet of a beverage server. In conventional designs, a faucet of a beverage server is provided in the lower portion of a reservoir, such that a beverage from the reservoir is distributed to the spigot through a gravity-driven process. In operation, many of these servers are utilized as service industry coffee servers for restaurants and banquet halls. Employees who are handling the brewing equipment will often place servers used with the brewing equipment directly in a sink for cleaning or filling, such that the base of that sink acts as a horizontal surface. Absent the ability of the lever assembly to fold into an up position, this operation would result in putting unnecessary force on the lever assembly. Accordingly, a multi-position, hands-free actuation system is disclosed herein.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for operating a faucet assembly in a beverage server, the apparatus comprising:
 an adaptor, the adaptor including;
 a bore having a first central axis; 
 a first movement surface, the first movement surface fixed relative to the bore, and formed with a curvature about the central axis of the bore; and 
 a pin along a second central axis, the second central axis vertically offset from the first central axis; 
 
 a lever, the lever including;
 an axle, the axle configured to engage with the bore. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lever further comprises a necked area, the necked area configured to avoid a faucet guard of the faucet assembly when the first movement surface moves relative to the lever. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the necked area is concave with respect to a plane orthogonal to the first central axis. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adaptor further includes a second movement surface, wherein the second movement surface is formed with a curvature about the central axis of the bore. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein both the adaptor and the lever are symmetrical about a plane orthogonal to the first central axis. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the paddle portion includes a curved area configured to accommodate a cup. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adaptor further comprises a driving surface, the driving surface configured to engage a component of the faucet assembly with a camming action when a user applies a force to the lever in the direction of the beverage server. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adaptor further comprises a front engaging member abutting a first stop located on the lever when the lever is actuated toward a wall of a reservoir. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lever includes an upper portion and an angled portion, and the upper portion and the angled portion join at an angle lesser than an angle of a stop structure, the stop structure mounted on the adaptor. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus and faucet for use in a beverage server, the faucet comprising:
 a plunger; 
 a shaft engaging the plunger, such that the plunger is operable from an open to a closed position by manipulating the shaft; 
 the apparatus comprising: 
 an adaptor, the adaptor including; 
 a bore having a first central axis; 
 a first movement surface, the first movement surface fixed relative to the bore, and formed with a curvature about the central axis of the bore; 
 a pin along a second central axis, the second central axis vertically offset from the first central axis; 
 the adaptor configured to manipulate the shaft; 
 a lever, the lever including; 
 an axle, the axle configured to engage with the bore. 
 
     
     
       11. A beverage server, comprising a reservoir, a faucet, and an actuating apparatus, the faucet comprising:
 a plunger; 
 a shaft engaging the plunger, such that the plunger is operable from an open to a closed position by manipulating the shaft; 
 the actuating apparatus comprising: 
 an adaptor, the adaptor including;
 a bore having a first central axis; 
 a first movement surface, the first movement surface fixed relative to the bore, and formed with a curvature about the central axis of the bore; 
 a pin along a second central axis, the second central axis vertically offset from the first central axis; 
 the adaptor configured to manipulate the shaft; 
 
 a lever, the lever including;
 an axle, the axle configured to engage with the bore.